good quality saucepans

GALWAYGIRL27

Hi all,
I want to buy some really good quality saucepans. What brands would you recommend? The plan is to buy in the christmas sales so all price ranges will be considered.
Thanks.

Seaneh

You really can't go wrong with Tefal, not too expensive and they do a really good job. Try and get the ones that are metal utensil and dishwasher safe, if you look after them they will last you years. I've had the same 28cm frying pan for about 7 years and it's still perfect.


Beyond that, you could buy a set of cast iron pans, but you'd have to season them yourself, and that can be off putting for a lot of people.

TequilaMockingBird

I'd recommend Circulon. Often better value to buy as a set. They last forever.

Minder

Stellar. I have one that's 22 years old. All metal with no teflon to get scratched, the metal handles mean they can go in the oven and the dishwasher without worries.

boodlesdoodles

Stellar all the way for me. Have them for years and still look brand new.

olaola

If you're willing to wait, you'll get some great bargains in the sales. Arnotts usually have great discounts on saucepan sets.

gizmo

The Circulon set I got a couple of months ago are absolutely fantastic so I heartily recommend them. The Amazon deal is still ridiculously good value for money.

The Hill Billy

I have a set of Judge pans. All steel like Minder's & great for the same reasons.

Sparks

I'd say forget the brand, and just go potter round the TK Maxx kitchen section every so often. When you see a pot/pan that fits your needs and some basic rules, buy it.

Basic rules:

• Have at least one cast iron skillet
• Except for stock pots, any pot or pan should be heavy, not flimsy.
• BIG loop handles on lids and pots (so you can use them with oven mitts, tongs, wooden spoons, etc)
• If you go for pan handles on pots, be sure they have holes at the end of the handle to hang them up *and* be sure the handles are bare metal so they're oven safe. If you can't take a pan off the hob and put it straight into the oven, don't buy it (unless it's specialised like your nonstick eggs pan).
• Stainless steel for everything bar the cast iron pan, the wok, and the stock pot.
• If you buy a wok, do it in an asian market; it'll be both cheaper and better. And get the one-handled variety. And if you have a gas hob, get the long ladle as well, the hair on the back of your hands will thank you for it.
• You want a few small sauce pots (1 pint to 1 litre or so) for simple sauces, reheating frozen peas, that kind of thing. You want a few mid-sized pots (2-3 litres or so) for general cooking, and you want at least one monster pot for stocks and pasta (4-5 litres, taller than it is wide, and aluminium). It helps if the lids are all interchangable as much as possible.
• If you can afford a pressure cooker, buy one. And be sure you can get a whole chicken into it - they make brilliant stockpots
• If you see a pot/pan that you love the look of and can afford, buy it (TK Maxx is great for this). If you like it, you'll use it... just don't forget you have to store all of this stuff somewhere too

Jonny Drama

TK Maxx are great on prices, and they sell brand names as well.

A decent size saucepan in there ranges from 12 - 16 euro, cheap compared to other retailers.

lucylu

I have numerous (3)circulon professional saucepans.The only good thing I can say about them is the lids fit tight. As for the black teflon coating it has practially disappeared inside the saucepans and is flaking on the outside.I dont use metal spoons and I do dishwash them

I am also on the lookout for a stainless steal range where their lids don't rattle

paudgenator

Another vote for Circulon..I got a set at half price in a Debenhams sale, which are as perfect as the day I bought them..however they were clearly marked to be hand washed; I don't mind that though as nothing sticks to them and they would take up too much space.

Ddad

I've ten year old Stellars that look like new. Go for riveted handles rather than spot welded or screwed on. The Stellars are suitable for all cooking methods, induction tc and are dishwasher safe. I also have a pressure cooker (tefal) and it gets used everyday as either a large pot or a pressure cooker, great pot. Personally I've never had any non stick pan that wasn't banjaxed after a couple of years of hard, careful use.

ekevosu

Myself and the wife bought a set of fissler saucepans through the amazon Germany site. They were half the price there as they are German and the delivery was fast and not too expensive. And you don't need German to use the site. Great quality saucepans.